Leaked Military Operation Plans Not Published by Major Newspapers

A clandestine military operation plan targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was leaked to both the New York Times and the Washington Post, yet neither chose to publish the details, as reported by Semafor on Saturday night.

According to two anonymous sources familiar with the discussions between the administration and the media, these outlets opted not to share information regarding the operation prior to its execution due to concerns about the safety of U.S. forces involved. The military action led to Maduro’s arrest and removal, and he has since been indicted on several charges, including drug-terrorism conspiracy.

As of Sunday morning, the identity of the leaker remains unknown.

President Donald Trump gave his final approval for the operation late Friday night, just hours before announcing on Truth Social that Maduro had been captured and airlifted from Venezuela. Photos shared on Saturday showed Trump alongside senior officials in the situation room at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

Trump reported that while several U.S. soldiers sustained injuries during the airstrike, there were no fatalities among American troops.

This incident marks a noteworthy example of a news organization, frequently criticized by Trump for “fake news,” choosing to hold back information regarding a national security matter to protect U.S. military personnel. It’s not an unprecedented move in American journalism; the New York Times, for instance, withheld information about the CIA’s role in the Bay of Pigs invasion at the government’s request in 1961.

In another case from 1985, the Times refrained from naming a significant figure in the Iran-Contra affair due to fears for military personnel’s safety, while the Washington Post took a different approach by identifying him in its coverage.